I don't at all see how something coming from a high tier, expensive building is more powerful/less risky than getting it as an off-map, is all I was saying. Again, it's better than a Brummbar at almost everything (except AT, but even then, Brummbar AT is pretty mediocre and Brummbar armour is much worse) but much cheaper and doesn't require tech buildings. Just doesn't seem to fit in at all with the cost of comparably powerful, heavily-armoured vehicles.
Going straight to KV-8 is a bit risky, but slipping it into a T2-T3 or even a Shocks-T2-T4 build is very viable and not a huge investment (20 fuel and 40 manpower more than an Ostwind, say) and on account of the low cost and high damage it only really doesn't pay itself back if it's lost really quickly. It also absolutely requires tanks to counter it, whereas a Brummbar, which is much more expensive, you can push off with 2 AT guns if you have to.
I agree with everything you said Blovski, except risk factor...
Getting KV8 asap is where you can do the damage (or shoot yourself in the foot). If you wait up to pull out t34 or T4-Su85, then the window for marauding all conquering KV8 is gone. Just becomes another unit, that can be dealt with easy. Easy to deal with as SU85 or Panther comparably.
as for Brummbar, I wasn't aiming really on how you get it, but rather where it lands into. And that is: strong and well rounded default German tier. Meaning, you have a lot of options with PG's, AT guns, you can go any direction you wish, regardless of Brumbar. You can choose any commander and call in units/abilities they come with, and Brumbar on top of it.
Having Brumbar as powerful as KV8, would just make Germans game braking OP.
Because you don't have to worry about getting AT to cover it. You already have powerful and Versatile tier 2 PG's to deal with Soviet countering with SU85 or T34's.
Thats why I think Devs, didn't make Brummbar instant killing machine as KV8
As far as KV8 looking at it in Vacuum, It definitely is OP. But, right now it doesn't break balance of the game as part of the commander it comes with. Choosing KV8 commander wont make you any more likely to win. At least, thats how i feel...